Yoga isn't the best way to spend your exercise time

A common yoga poseA few people have requested that I give my thoughts on yoga. Let me preface this post by saying that I’m in the business of motivating people to be more active and more healthy. If you love yoga and if it’s the only kind of exercise you really care about; then for you it is a great form of exercise. Please don’t change your routine because I happen to have some fundamental issues with this (or any other) particular form of "exercise."

That being said, I think there are much more efficient ways to expend your energy.

My problem with yoga is that there is little to no movement involved in 99% of yoga poses. Your body craves movement, but yoga consists of holding poses on a thin, uncomfortable exercise mat (although I’ve seen some adorned with cute flowers).

While holding these poses, you’re not working all of your energy systems. Yoga does not increase your heart rate to the point where you are going to decrease cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, improve body composition, et al.

Another issue I have with yoga is that it doesn’t prepare the body for activities required for daily living. For example, yoga would not prepare a mother of two young children to hold her kids, pick them up out of a car seat or lunge after them when they dart toward a dangerous street. You need to add exercises with movement and maybe external weight to do this job.

My belief is that the young mother in the above example isn’t going to decrease her chance of injury by lying on a mat and holding a static pose. After all, she isn't going to hold her children without moving. We need to have that mother lunging with resistance, maybe protecting her back by performing movements that she will do while holding her kids.

Yes, Madonna has a great body and she has promoted yoga. But remember that she sings and dances for a living. She worked out with her ex-trainer Tracy Anderson for up to four hours a day and her performances are like watching an elite athlete dart around the stage. Madonna's physique is certainly not entirely from yoga. It’s from working with a trainer for up to four hours daily and from her being an incredible dancer. And no, I am not a Madonna fan.

Before I receive too many nasty comments for not being on board with yoga, please try and remember that I’m not saying to stay away from yoga. If yoga is your cup of tea, stick with it. I tell my clients to use yoga for variety in their workout regimen. However, I don't I think yoga is the best overall workout.